South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-04-29
CHINOOK WIND.
A Phenomenal Aerial Current
or the Northwest
Ia Sudden Coming Blessing to BIzard-
Stricken Cattle Ranges.

Suooon Ooming blessing to Bh1ard-
Stricken Cattle Ranges.
Hon. Joseph Nimmo. Jr.. who ha, az.
piored the 'arid region" of the interior,
with the view Of writing book in re-
caro- to 1t, gives the following descrip-
lion OF the Chinook Wind: The name
Chinook Wind" is applied to an aerial
current from the great Kuro- Siwo of the
Pacific Ocean. During the winter
months this current of air occasionally
debouches over the crest of the Rocky
Mountains into the British Northwestern
PROVINCES, Montana and Wyoming.
Sometimes it extends far south into Col
orado, but seldom much further east
than the western boundary Of Dakota.
1t is the result Of simultaneous low ba-
rometer cast and high barometer west OF
the Rockies. The atmospheric change
which it produces is about rs marked as
that which one would experience during
the month OF January in passing from
Quebec to Key West. The coming of
tho Chinook Wind is always sudden,
and somewhat phenomenal. In the
course OF two hours the thermometer
may rise from 45e below
10 4os above zero. Occasionally,
when the snow is deep, and the Chinook
Wind has an extensive range and is long
continued, the waters of the melting
SHOWS pour down in torrents into the
| Upper Missouri. The river is broken up
and rises above its banks. But rs the
swelling flood reaches Dakota, it arrives
Mt point beyond which the influence of
the Chinook Wind has not been felt.
Here the ice is from three to four feet
thick, and as solid as a rock. But the
superintendent waters tear the ice from
Its fastenings to the shores, and "war
OF the elements" ensues of surprising
grandeur. A gorge is soon formed,
which increases in height until the great
ice-dam gives way, when the whole mass
moving on, again rips up the solid ice,
which is piled in enormous masses fifty
to one hundred feet in height, at points
along the bends of the river, until an
other gorge is formed, in its turn to be
burst asunder by the force of the rising
waters. No railroad bridge, however
strong, could resist the force Of one of
these masses of ice.
But the Chinook Wind comes ALWAYS
as blessing to the far northwestern
cattle ranges. Usually it is the 'break.
up of blizzard. During these dread
full Arctic blasts the cattle retire to the
cou.ees and sheltered valleys. After
they have cropped the grasses which
rear their heads above the snow, and
have exhausted the supply of sage brush,
and other varieties of the Artemsia
family, the internal source Of heat giving
out, the poor brutcs arc forced to tramp
for life. Gathering in bands, they list
iessiy wander over the vast ranges.
drifting with the bitter blast. Some of
them have their tails frozen, which drop
off, and their legs become Redeemed
with frozen blood. The horns of others
freeze, and in time fall off. The dis
tressed animals below with agony as
they move on. Cows which have dropped
late calves, and were in no condition to
Ego into the winter" usually succumb.
One by one, COW and calf and weak
steer fall by the way, and speedily be-
come the prey of wolves and bears
and mountain lions, which all the time
have hung upon the TANKS of the re-
treating herd, waiting for zone who
drops"
At such time the blessed Chinook
Wind arrives. The weary cattle snuff it
from afar, and come to n halt. Then, as
the warm air envelopes them, they lie
down to long sleep. But the pangs of
hunger are upon tEen. AS soon as they
are sufficiently rested they start at
once for the Winter ranges" These
comprise the areas remote from the
streams, which during the long dry sea-
son of the summer months have tethered
them in their grazing. But now the
Chinook Wind has formed pools from
the melting SHOWS all over the country,
where they may qucnch their thirst and
Craze where they please. In the album
dant pasturasc thus opened up to them
they feed upon the highly nutritious
grasses peculiar to the arid region, and
are soon roinvigorated. But in the
course of few days the wind changes.
An Arctic wave presses back the Chi
nook. And now, with wcll-flled
stomachs and paunchcs, the herd speed
lily seeks shelter and once more is forced
to undergo the terrible ordeal of a
Northwest blizzlrd. Frank Lcslie's.
The Religion Of Cinnamon.
The people of this state, if called
upon 70 express an opinion. would say.